Five talking points to arise from QPR's defeat against Fulham, including a run of five games without a win after draws with Millwall, Burton and Barnsley

Is it time for panic stations after five games without a win?

by Phil Spencer

10:43, 30 Sep 2017Updated11:10, 30 Sep 2017

It was a disappointing night at Loftus Road as QPR fell to a 2-1 defeat against west London rival Fulham.

It was an entertaining game for large spells with the Hoops having plenty of opportunities to get back into the game; but to no avail.

We take a look at the five main talking points to arise from the clash with the Cottagers.

Lack of attacking threat

It's the simplest fact in football; to win games you need to score goals.

Unfortunately at the moment, although QPR are creating chances, they aren't creating enough clear-cut chances to really kick on.

As part of the wider system, it's clear to see the role that the likes of Jamie Mackie and Conor Washington play, while Idrissa Sylla and Matt Smith are available to provide a more physical threat in the box.

But this doesn't work if the attack is isolated for large spells.

Other than Luke Freeman, there isn't enough midfielder runners getting close to attack, leaving the strikers to feed off scraps, loose balls and balls over the top to try and get on the ball.

The system that Holloway has installed this season certainly works as a way of putting the opposition under pressure by pressing high, but the midfield need to take a step forward to link up with the strikers more closely, while the wide players need to be quicker at getting the ball into the box in order to create clear-cut chances to score.

Luke Freeman

Another star performance from Freeman showed exactly why he's so crucial to QPR.

Luke Freeman QPR vs Burton(Image: Paul Burgman/Press-Photos.com)

Linking into the above point, the former Bristol City star is the main creative force in the Hoops side; but it's unsustainable to rely solely on him to create for the strikers.

Freeman is excellent at breaking into the final third and putting the ball on a plate for the strikers, arguably making him Ian Holloway's most valuable player at present.

The team needs other players to step up and help him out, because if for any reason Freeman was to be out of action, then I feel the Hoops would really struggle on current evidence.

Why isn't Matt Smith starting?

It's a question I've been asked numerous times by QPR fans, and the honest answer is that Ian Holloway appears to see him purely as a plan B striker.

Smith's qualities are there for all to see, as he makes a nuisance of himself when QPR play a more direct style of play when chasing the game; but this isn't the way Ian Holloway wants to play the game in an ideal world.

The former Leeds man isn't going to work relentlessly like Jamie Mackie or Conor Washington meaning that he's seen more as an impact striker.

However with the Hoops struggling for fire-power up front I do think that Smith should be utilised more due to his undoubted threat in the opposition area.

A quiet game for Scowen

Josh Scowen QPR v Burton(Image: Paul Burgman/Press-Photos.com)

It was going to happen at sometime, but Scowen endured arguably his most subdued performances of the season last night.

Let's be honest, the fact that he's performed so consistently up until this point is a fantastic achievement, and against Fulham, although he was good, he was at times a little over-run by the fluid movements of Fulham's full-backs and midfielders.

It is all part of the leaning curve for Scowen, who has still been the Hoops player of the season so far.

Five games without a win

It feels like something of an elephant in the room, but the tally of games without a QPR win is slowly creeping up.

Yes, the Hoops have shown what they are capable of and have been statistically superior in a number of their recent games; but if we're being frank there is only one statistic that matters, and that's points on the board.

I'm not one to sensationalise anything, and I certainly don't think it's time for panic stations just yet, but it's crucial that QPR get back to winning ways soon as with the relentless fixture list we've seen that a run of winless games can quickly escalate.

The Hoops face games against Sunderland and Bolton just after the international break; two games which the Hoops will be hoping to pick up at least four points against struggling sides.

If they don't, it may just start to unsettle some of the Loftus Road faithful.